School safety is an issue that is important to practically all college students today and especially for those of us as UH. We are constantly bombarded with email notifications about campus muggings and crimes.We just want to get an education and have fun without the fear of being attacked while walking to our cars or walking on campus.
So how do we stay safe and protect ourselves? The Texas legislature has an answer, carry guns.
The Texas House Bill 1893- Carrying on Campus, would allows those students with a concealed hand gun license to carry their handgun around with them on campus.
Currently only one state, Utah, has a law that allows concealed hand guns to be carried at all public campuses and universities. Two other colleges, Colorado State University and Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, Virginia, allow for hand guns on their campus.
Is carry guns really the answer? Future UH student Julie Howard thinks so.
Howard will be transferring to UH in the fall and is concerned about her safety while on campus. “I’m going to be working while I go to school so most likely I’ll be taking night classes and I just want to feel safe,” said Howard.
“I actually considered buying a gun to have for my apartment since I’ll be living alone downtown but now I know about the proposed legislation I’m definitely wanting to get one for my protection on campus as well,” said Howard.
Owning a gun and knowing how to use it properly and safely are two separate things. My main opposition with people carry concealed weapons is the fear of the inability of the individual to use it properly. Is there a chance I could be walking too closely behind someone and they will get scared and turn around and shoot me?
“If people are going to be allowed to carry guns they should definitely be required to take several hand gun lessons so they can handle it properly. I won’t even hold my gun until I take all the classes I can. To me it’s just like driving. You have to take the required classes before getting your license and get behind the wheel. Just because I want to carry a gun does not mean I want just anyone having one as well. As long as the proper education goes with it, I feel carry a gun is completely safe,” said Howard.
Many people feel that incidences like the Virginia Tech shootings and other campus shootings could have been prevented if students were permitted to carry guns on campus. Tragic incidences like that of Virginia Tech are not common on most campuses. Bad things happen that’s just a part of life, but I do not feel having a plethora of weapons on campus will make things better.
“If the bill does pass and I am able to carry a gun with me on campus doesn’t mean I’ll ever use it. In fact, I hope I don’t have to, but if I ever find myself in a dangerous situation I know I will be well prepared and ready to defend myself if needed. It’s all about a safe state of mind for me,” said Howard.
I can see the arguments both sides make and I believe there is good and bad about both, but for me more guns are not the answer. Instead of promoting guns, an awareness about self defense and classes in self defense should be more readily available on college campuses.
Maybe it’s the liberal in me or my complete and utter fear of guns, but you wont see me carry a gun anytime soon. I choose to stick with my pepper spray instead.
Good piece, especially the balance in finding someone who wants to carry. Learn how to attribute quotations. Put them high in the quotation, not at the end. Also you’ve got typos that spell check would catch…
Guns can be scary and are sometimes extreme. What you have to consider is will the student carrying the gun be comfortable enough with the gun to use it in a very stressful situation. The odds are most won’t.
It would easier for most students to get comfortable with a stun gun, TASER or pepper spray. Being comfortable, they would be quicker in using these non-lethal self defense products. And that’s what’s going to save them, quick decisive action that allows them to remove themselves from a dangerous situation.
Like you I can see both sides. As a college student, I have mixed emotions. To me, it is a sad reflection on our moral state that these issues even have to come up for debate. Certainly, non-lethal self-defense is the safer alternative. Pepper spray, stun guns, and/or loud sirens are a safer alternative. Maybe even armed guards, who knows. Nice post though.
One of the most effective tools women on campus can use is an ear piercing personal alarm. They are cheap easy to use and legal on all campuses
Unfortunately you will never be completely protected from crime but I do believe that most people can create a safe piece of mind by carrying a self-defense product like pepper sprays and stun guns. Of course handguns are a great protection device but they do require much more skill and training to insure a safe and accurate resolution. Guns also have more margins for error, or reversal in circumstances, that can have either a deadly result on the victim or even innocent bystanders. The typical self-defense products, defense sprays and stun guns require much less training to administer a nonlethal, ye effective, blow to an assailant. These personal protection devices are not only easy to operate but are also marketed in versions that look like everyday products, such as cell phones and lipsticks. I guess it is always up to the individual to choose their protection device but it does seem that self-defense products are a great alternative to guns.
Non-lethal personal protection may be more comfortable for some people. Kubotans are highly accesible, extremely durable and effective self defense weapon.